Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to worship and give thanks

November 17, 2006|Pastor Jeffrey S. Beebe and Meadow Park Church

Well, here we are, beloved readers -- Thanksgiving.

Frost is on the pumpkin and the leaves are turning a brilliant gold. Well, at least the humidity has receded a bit and the palm fronds are swaying in the breeze. While I love fall, I'm not complaining about the lack of fall-like weather. Come mid January and February we'll be sitting pretty while the leafless trees and icy streets hamper our northern neighbors.

This time of year brings a collective sigh of relief as hurricane season officially terminates at the end of the month, and not a moment too soon! We've had a quiet year, thankfully. El NiM-qo is a great blessing -- in more ways than one.

But what this time of year is really about is twofold: tryptophan and the new NFL flexible schedule! When you think about it they are probably closely related. As we consume copious amounts of turkey, the tryptophan kicks in and we can doze through the week's best football games.

This is a great leap forward for men everywhere. The leftovers alone can help us nap through several quarters of a Colts game. And as for those Bears ... Well, the Monsters of the Midway are no match for stacked turkey and dressing with mayo -- and don't forget the chips! Please wake me when it's time for bed.

As we shuffle through the yummy turkey and all the trimmings, gather with family we haven't seen in a while and watch those football games, we should think a little bit about what this special holiday is really all about.

It's not about football, or even sleep inducing fowl ... it's about an idea that is carved into the heart of every man and woman who has ever lived.

That idea is the human need to worship. We, as creations, are naturally drawn to a relationship with our creator. We have a need, as humans, to give thanks to this God who blesses us and ours.

Make no mistake about it, our Thanksgiving gatherings are worship events. In fact, the meal we share together every Sunday at Meadow Park Church is called the Eucharist. In the language of the New Testament that simply means Thanksgiving.

Holy Communion is a sacred meal of the Body and Blood of Christ and the Thanksgiving meal is a celebration of which Christ would have partaken.

The turkey feast we all fuss over and serve to our loved ones is a way we worship God with our families in our very own homes. It is critically important to keep this idea at the center of our Thanksgiving celebrations. This point is elementary, but key. If we have a Thanksgiving feast, to whom are we giving thanks?

We are giving thanks to the God of the Hebrew people. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ... and father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This God of our Fathers aches for intimacy and closeness with you and your family. He longs to share this meal with you. He desires nothing more than to be with when you cuddle with your grandchildren or peacefully doze off while you watch that football game. This is the best part about the holiday -- our presence with God Almighty in the little moments of family and friends. Enjoy the season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeff Beebe is the pastor of Meadow Park Church, which meets at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays at Park Trails Elementary School in Parkland.

To contribute a clergy column or story ideas to Faith & Community, call Religion Editor Elana Simms at 954-356-4828 or e-mail her at esimms@sun-sentinel.com.